Glacier Gorge Private Hike
Estes Park, CO
4.9 (36 reviews)Trip Highlights
- Alpine Lakes & Views
- Wildlife & Wildflowers
- Stunning Waterfall
- Top-shelf Backpack & Trekking {oles
- Amazing Natural & Cultural History
- Tasty Trail Snacks & Picnic Lunch
Description
The Glacier Gorge Hike takes us into the justifiably very popular Bear Lake – Glacier Gorge part of Rocky Mountain National Park. This area features mountain scenery that is as breathtaking and beautiful as any in the world, literally. Glacier Gorge is a sub-alpine valley that drains several high mountain cirques. Our hike is characterized by dense forests, meadows, waterfalls, alpine lakes, glaciers and mountain cirques.
Our hike takes us past Alberta Falls, a beautiful waterfall below treeline. We’ll continue up a timbered valley with a tumbling creek to Loch Vale, a mountain lake at over 10,000 feet ringed by granite cliffs. We’ll stop on the idyllic shores of Loch Vale and enjoy a picnic lunch. From here we have many options which include hiking to more lakes, continuing to views of glaciers, or returning back the way we came. This tour can be very flexible, and while we rate it Level 2 difficulty, it can easily be done as a great Level 3 hike. Your guide will be ready to do whatever is going to make your day an unforgettable one!
(Important: We run hikes in almost all weather conditions and very rarely cancel. See our terms and conditions for information on cancellations and refunds.)
$115-$525 Per Person
Season: June-Oct
DIFFICULTY LEVEL 2
Scale of 1-5. 1 is least difficult; 5 is most difficult
This tour is a customizable day hike depending on your ability and motivation. The region offers several well-maintained hiking trails leading to multiple alpine lakes. Hikes can range anywhere from 6 – 10 MI/ 10 – 16 KM with varying elevation change.
Hiking Distances:
6-10 mi
Backpack Weight:
8-12 lbs
Terrain:
Lightly Rugged
Max Daily Elev. ↑↓:
1000-1500 ft
Heights Exposure:
None
PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THIS TRIP
- Hiking uphill or downhill with a 8-12 lb backpack for 5-8 hours
- Maintaining balance and footing on lightly rugged terrain
SOLITUDE LEVEL 2
- Level 1: around other hikers the entire time
- Level 2: around other hikers most of the time
- Level 3: around other hikers some of the time
- Level 4: see a couple other groups during the hike
- Level 5: most likely to have the trail to ourselves
Learn About Our Private Trips
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Rates
- 1 person: $525
- 2 people: $275 per person
- 3 people: $245 per person
- 4-5 people: $205 per person
- 6-7 people: $175 per person
- 8-10 people: $115 per person
- 10 and younger: $135 per person
Private day hike tours are only open to your party.
*Prices do not include guide gratuity
TRIP DATES & BOOKING
AVAILABLE TO BOOK
This trip is available and bookable online! Click on the date to register now or contact us online to book through our award-winning customer service team!
GOING FAST
This trip has 1 or 2 spots remaining and is bookable online! Click on the date to book now or contact us online to book through customer service.
REQUEST A RESERVATION
This trip is exclusively booked through customer service due to logistics with lodging, permits, staffing, availability, or something else. Please contact us online or call us at 800-715-HIKE (4453) to request a reservation.
The listed dates reflect general availability for Rocky Mountain National Park day hike tours. You will select your exact hike during the registration process. The season for this hike is Jun-Oct.
Don't see your dates? Call us! We may be able to add new trip dates.
800-715-HIKE (4453)Trip Details
What's Included
- Trained hiking guide(s) with years of personal wilderness and hiking experience, medical certifications, and a passion for leading people into breathtaking landscapes. See Guide Bios.
- A commitment to make the tour as exciting, challenging, informative, and full as you’d like, and as is possible in a day
- Transportation to the trailhead and back (originating/ending in Estes Park)
- National park entrance fee
- Trail snacks and a picnic lunch
- Use of a top of the line, technical day pack
- Use of trekking poles
What's Not Included
- Clothing and personal items
- Water (2 liters capacity)
- Guide gratuity (industry recommendation is 10-20% of trip cost)
Food: What To Expect
Day hike tours include energizing trail snacks and a delicious picnic lunch. Your guide will customize the food for your hike, but a typical lunch consists of gourmet sandwiches or wraps, fruit, veggies, chips, drinks and a dessert. On wintery or cold days you may be treated to soup or a hot, freshly cooked lunch (if you’d prefer a hot meal, please let us know!)
We regularly accommodate vegan, vegetarian, kosher and non-gluten diets and will make adjustments for food allergies. These and other special dietary requests may require an additional fee.
Trip Logistics
Where Do We Meet?
Your guide will pick you up from your hotel in Estes Park by 7am or earlier the morning of your hike. If you are traveling into town the day of the tour, you will meet at the Estes Park Mountain Shop – 2050 Big Thompson Ave, Estes Park, CO.
Tours hiking above the tree line or attempting mountain summits will begin before sunrise. An early start is essential for safety to avoid afternoon thunderstorms.
Your guide will contact you approximately one week before your hike to coordinate the exact time and location of your rendezvous in Estes Park, as it may also be affected by weather forecasts.
Safety Precautions
Your safety is our top priority. Our hiking tours are led by professional hiking guides, all of whom are wilderness-certified first responders or EMT’s, each with years of guiding and wilderness experience. Guides adhere to standardized risk management protocols in case of any potential or actual incident, and all tours carry an emergency communication device and comprehensive first-aid kit. Additionally we have a “24/7” system through which guides or guests can reach Wildland support personnel at any time.
If you have any further questions about safety, please contact us at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453) for more information.
Age Restrictions
Age restrictions on this trip are as follows:
- 5 and older to join private tours, with final approval on a case by case basis
Weather in the Colorado Rockies
Average Temperatures (Fahrenheit)
| Month | High | Low |
|---|---|---|
| June | 71° | 48° |
| July | 79° | 55° |
| August | 78° | 53° |
| September | 69° | 45° |
| October | 61° | 38° |
Trip Reviews
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Emily N
Challenging enough to be fun
We had an amazing time with Leah as our guide! Our family of four (two adults and two grown kids) couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Leah was super knowledgeable about the local wildlife and made the whole hike really engaging by pointing out animals and plants we might have missed on our own. The hike itself was perfect for non-expert hikers like us—challenging enough to be fun, but totally doable. The views were absolutely gorgeous, and the lunch Leah provided was really good, giving us the perfect break to take it all in. We'd definitely recommend her to anyone looking for a fantastic guide!
Laura H
Incredible
Incredible Guides will lead you to unforgettable views. My Son and I enjoyed a personal tour of Glacier Gorge. Highly recommend Wildland Trekking for a safe hike into the park.
Elizabeth J
Wildland Trekking is the only way to go!
Experiencing a hike with Wildland Trekking is the only way to go! The guide will not only tell you about the area fauna and history but will also encourage and motivate any stragglers in your group. Wildland Trekking guides have definitely worked wonders with our children, leaving us with the ability to enjoy the hike.
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